This morning during my morning reading, something stood out to me in a totally different context.
1 Cor. 12: 7-11…
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Up until today, I’ve always read that scripture as manifestations of the Spirit within the corporate church setting or as a selection of gifts that the Holy Spirit walks around handing out at random. I’ve always heard people say things like “I walk in the gift of healing.” “The Lord has given me the gift of knowledge.”
But this morning as I read those scriptures I heard a quiet whisper in my spirit to slow down so I read it again and thought, “Wait, over the years and through each adoption I can see how I’ve operated in nearly all of these gifts at one time or another.”
As I slowed down and looked at them individually, here’s what I saw:
The word of wisdom. My bible commentary says, “it’s a spiritual utterance at a given moment through the Spirit, supernaturally disclosing the mind, purpose and way of God as applied to a specific situation.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat with one of my daughters digging through some difficulty or conflict only to suddenly have a realization that the problem is something totally different. Somehow a pain from the past had surfaced and manifest in a behavior issue, attitude or sorrow in the present and the Lord showed me the thread that connected the two which allowed me to gently comfort and bring healing to the past so that we could resolve the present.
The word of knowledge. “A supernatural revelation of information pertaining to a person or an event, given for a specific purpose, usually having to do with an immediate need.” There are many times that I will be in the middle of a normal task like washing dishes and I will hear the prompting of the Lord to go talk to or check on one of my girls. When I hear that prompting and I respond, I always find that they are dealing with a difficult situation and need guidance, comfort or reassurance. On many occasions, as I’ve began to talk with them I’ve specifically asked about school, or a particular friend, or a specific situation only to find that it’s exactly what they are dealing with. It’s funny to hear them say, “How did you know?”
The gift of faith. “A unique form of faith that goes beyond natural faith and saving faith. It supernaturally trusts and does not doubt with reference to the specific matters involved.” If there’s one gift that my very survival has relied on – it’s faith. Through the pitfalls of parenting both natural and adopted children – I’ve had to trust God daily even when the situation looks totally hopeless. In our home we’ve dealt with drugs, suicide attempts, running away, teen pregnancy, rejection, lying, pornography, arrests and much more. It’s a supernatural faith that what God has called you to do He will equip you for and deliver you through that’s kept us going. Our daughters are wonderful blessings of the Lord, but we must trust Him in the writing of their stories – we don’t get to decide their testimony. We just have to trust Him that all things work together for the good -even if they suck at the moment.
The gift of healings. “These are those healings that God performs supernaturally by the Spirit. The plural suggests that as there are many sicknesses and diseases, the gift is related to healings of many disorders.” I have seen tremendous healing in all of my children. Healing from the past, supernatural healing of diagnosed “disorders,” an ability to learn when before they could barely get by, emotional stability – all of which are directly given from the hand of the Lord. I trust him with their mind, body and soul and know that He will show me when to act, what to pray and how to stand on their behalf so that He can do the work that needs to be done to make them complete in Him.
The working of miracles. “A manifestation of power beyond the ordinary course of natural law. It is a divine enablement to do something that could not be done naturally.” My daughters ARE miracles and each day that I watch them heal from their past, grow stronger in the present and discover more of who God created them to be – I see a miracle. Every one of my daughters both natural and adopted came into our family by the way of a miracle. And, I know that God is at work performing miracles in their lives both big and small everyday.
Prophecy. “A divine disclosure on behalf of the Spirit, an edifying revelation of the Spirit for the moment, a sudden insight of the Spirit, prompting exhortation or comfort.” I love the last few words of that prompting exhortation or comfort – that’s our role as parents to encourage, exhort and comfort our children. The Lord has been so faithful to me through the work of the Holy Spirit in providing the right thing to say at the right time to bring encouragement or comfort and helping my children develop a vision for their future has been critical in their healing in the present. There are many times that I sense a divine part of their calling in life, even the tiniest of detail, and I share it with them and watch their eyes light up to know that I believe that God is equipping them to have a bright future full of promise.
Different kinds of tongues. “The gift of speaking supernaturally in a language not known to the individual. Designed particularly for praying and singing in the Spirit.” As a spirit-filled believer, I practice praying and worshipping in tongues on a regular basis and I’ve found that in times of crisis when I don’t know what to ask, think, or pray… turning to the Holy Spirit for His intervention brings peace and comfort.
I am thankful to serve a God who is ever-present in all of the major and minor details of my life. I can’t imagine my life or our family without Jesus’ presence.
